The Mountain View School Division (MVSD) Board of Trustees is raising serious concerns over the lack of response from the Minister of Education and the unwillingness of the appointed oversight panel to collaborate without undermining local governance. Despite multiple requests for clarity, the Ministry has not provided any further guidance on how the panel’s role should function without jeopardizing the representation of the community.
The Minister of Education has not responded to MVSD’s proposals or clarified the role of the oversight panel, leaving things in a state of uncertainty. The MVSD board of trustees is committed to working with the panel, but its members have ties to organizations that called for dissolving our board, which makes it difficult to trust the process and ensure they’re committed to supporting local governance.
Seven weeks ago, the MVSD Board submitted a term of reference through legal counsel, which proposed that the panel fulfill its oversight duties without interfering in board meetings. This included allowing panel members to speak before and after meetings or as a delegation. However, the Minister has not acknowledged these suggestions, and at a recent meeting, panel members walked out before a decision could be made, accusing the board of non-cooperation.
Additionally, the board is still waiting for the results of the governance review, which was conducted months ago by an independent review board with full cooperation from the board of trustees. If the Minister is serious about improving governance, the board of trustees requires access to that document to understand the basis for the initial recommendation to dissolve the board.”
MVSD is calling on the Minister to prioritize open communication and cooperation to ensure effective governance and restore trust within the community.
Sincerely
Jason Gryba
Chair, Mountain View School Division